Rating: 
Summary: "And to the Republic, for Which It Sags..."
Review: "The Ultimate Computer" is a so-so entry, with more to recommend it than not, and "The Omega Glory" is - frankly - laughably bad, one of the worst scripts seen in the entire series.William Marshall is Dr. Daystrom, "The Ultimate Computer"'s creator, whose title device is intended to replace an entire starship crew and fulfill all of their functions with far greater efficiency. Unfortunately, Daystrom's genius comes largely from the fact that he was a social outcast, and the computer's mind is programmed directly from his own engrams. The result: something out of Stanley Kubrick's worst nightmare, with a dangerously schizoid personality and weaponry out the wazoo. Commodore Wesley (Barry Russo), the commander of the lead starship engaged in war games with Daystrom's mad alter-ego, has to make a decision as to whether or not to terminate the homicidal hardware - and Kirk and Company, reduced to prisoners on board their own ship, have to find a way to help him, or they'll die with the killer computer. Marshall is quite compelling in the role of the computer's creator, but the episode is otherwise fairly undistinguished. "The Omega Glory" is perhaps the most absurdly propagandistic script to have emerged in any medium during the Cold War. Morgan Woodward gives a wonderfully intense performance as Captain Ronald Tracy, a Starfleet commander gone mad as the sole survivor of a plague that devastated his crew - Tracy accidentally gained immunity by taking up residence on the planet from which the plague originated, where he must now remain or die. While there, Tracy discovers Starfleet's superior weaponry is worthwhile in establishing himself as a king among a primitive tribe called the Comms, who war with a neighboring tribe called the Yangs - who turn out to be direct Earth parallels of the "Comm"unists and the "Yang"kees, with the Yangs even saying the U.S. pledge of allegiance. Spock is seen as the devil because his pointed ears look like Satan's in the Yang "Sacred Book" (yes, they also have our Bible). Yeah, you don't have to say it - it's pretty stupid to me, too.
Rating:
Summary: "And to the Republic, for Which It Sags..."
Review: "The Ultimate Computer" is a so-so entry, with more to recommend it than not, and "The Omega Glory" is - frankly - laughably bad, one of the worst scripts seen in the entire series. William Marshall is Dr. Daystrom, "The Ultimate Computer"'s creator, whose title device is intended to replace an entire starship crew and fulfill all of their functions with far greater efficiency. Unfortunately, Daystrom's genius comes largely from the fact that he was a social outcast, and the computer's mind is programmed directly from his own engrams. The result: something out of Stanley Kubrick's worst nightmare, with a dangerously schizoid personality and weaponry out the wazoo. Commodore Wesley (Barry Russo), the commander of the lead starship engaged in war games with Daystrom's mad alter-ego, has to make a decision as to whether or not to terminate the homicidal hardware - and Kirk and Company, reduced to prisoners on board their own ship, have to find a way to help him, or they'll die with the killer computer. Marshall is quite compelling in the role of the computer's creator, but the episode is otherwise fairly undistinguished. "The Omega Glory" is perhaps the most absurdly propagandistic script to have emerged in any medium during the Cold War. Morgan Woodward gives a wonderfully intense performance as Captain Ronald Tracy, a Starfleet commander gone mad as the sole survivor of a plague that devastated his crew - Tracy accidentally gained immunity by taking up residence on the planet from which the plague originated, where he must now remain or die. While there, Tracy discovers Starfleet's superior weaponry is worthwhile in establishing himself as a king among a primitive tribe called the Comms, who war with a neighboring tribe called the Yangs - who turn out to be direct Earth parallels of the "Comm"unists and the "Yang"kees, with the Yangs even saying the U.S. pledge of allegiance. Spock is seen as the devil because his pointed ears look like Satan's in the Yang "Sacred Book" (yes, they also have our Bible). Yeah, you don't have to say it - it's pretty stupid to me, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Guts & Glory
Review: "The Ultimate Computer" is a typical Trek story of Kirk vs. the computer..Guess who wins? James Doohan (Scotty) does the voice of M-5.
"The Omega Glory" puts the crew on a "parallel Earth" in which the "Yangs" are servants to the "Comms". It is later revealed that the "Comms" are "Communists' & the "Yangs" are "Yankees". This episode contains many surprises after this....despite how incredible and far fetched they may be.
Rating: 
Summary: Star Trek
Review: Gene Roddenberry had a dream and it was star trek his infinitive vision lives on today with all the new star trek series but his origonal series is still one of the best in these two episodes he continued to live true to the rest or the star trek episodes I recomend this and all the origonal star trek episodes
Rating:
Summary: Another look at classic Star Trek themes.
Review: If there is to be any criticism of the DVD itself, or any in this series, it is that Paramount missed a great opportunity to load these episodes with some great features such as cast commentary. Nothing would be better than to listen to Shatner and Nimoy reminisce as to the particulars of any given episode in an audio commentary. Sadly, you'll have to buy their books for those insights. They do include the trailer for "next weeks" episode which is fun. "The Ultimate Computer" provides a predictable warning as to the dangers of technology, and the message is not dated in today's world view. More interesting is the effect this loss of power has on Captain Kirk. The loss of command is a recurrent theme in the original series. Check out "The Deadly Years," "The Naked Time" or "This Side of Paradise." In these episodes, Kirk's passion for the Enterprise is clearly established. Another interesting theme is that of the renegade captain, subject of "The Omega Glory." In the tradition of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" a captain finds himself alienated from civilization and "goes native" setting himself up as lord over the inhabitants. Check out "Bread and Circuses" or "Patterns of Force." The source of conflict, or drama, is provided when Captain Kirk is forced to confront what is essentially a darker version of himself. He knows his enemy, and his enemy, a former friend has the same training Kirk does. Remember, there were only twelve constellation class starships in the fleet, so these captains are at the top of their game. This senario is more directly explored in "The Enemy Within" where Kirk must literally battle his dark side. All said, these are two very strong classics in one package.
Rating:
Summary: Good if you get it right
Review: It seems like quality control has waivered as the series releases have slowly rolled out. Look for spelling errors in the enclosed documentation. I even received the wrong insert in one of the volumes I ordered (Vol.29) Sound and video is just as good as watching it on TV (4:3 ratio, stereo sound.) If your not expecting bells and whistles, as might be expected, you will be disappointed. However, if you just want to collect Trek, you will be pleased.
Rating:
Summary: Good if you get it right
Review: It seems like quality control has waivered as the series releases have slowly rolled out. Look for spelling errors in the enclosed documentation. I even received the wrong insert in one of the volumes I ordered (Vol.29) Sound and video is just as good as watching it on TV (4:3 ratio, stereo sound.) If your not expecting bells and whistles, as might be expected, you will be disappointed. However, if you just want to collect Trek, you will be pleased.
Rating:
Summary: Another parallel-development world & another killer computer
Review: Not the very best episodes among the original series offerings; they're weighed down a bit by, respectively, too much heavy allegory ("The Omega Glory") and excess preachiness ("The Ultimate Computer"). Both episodes, however, showcase some good character moments and humor. And, like all the original series Treks on DVD, the picture is sharp and clean. One could do worse.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Themes
Review: Paramount's complete reissue of Classic Trek on DVD continues with this installment of episodes from the end of the series' second season. Over thirty years after it was first aired, The Ultimate Computer remains a thought provoking and relevant episode. The theme of man vs. machine is more with us today than ever before. D. C. Fontata's excellent script is helped by superior television directing from John Meredyth Lucas. The distinguished stage actor William Marshall's performance as Dr. Richard Daystrom is rich in foreshadowing the high-strung scientist's impending breakdown. (Primarily based on the strength of that performance, nearly every Trek incarnation since has referenced Richard Daystrom, and in The Next Generation, there's even a Daystrom Institute.) Barry Russo makes a brief but noteworthy appearance as Commodore Robert Wesley (Wesley was Gene Roddenberry's middle name). Finally, James Doohan outdoes himself by playing THREE roles here: Scotty (of course), the voice of Commodore Enwright, and the voice of the M-5 Computer. The Omega Glory was one of three scripts written for the second Trek pilot, following NBC's rejection of The Cage (the other two were Mudd's Women and Where No Man Has Gone Before). Though this was the first script written making use of the parallel worlds concept, by the time it was filmed, the idea had been used so many times before (Miri, Bread & Circuses, Patterns of Force) that it was becoming stale. As in Patterns of Force, the parallels are so obviously drawn that they're not convincing. There are a few clever visual touches here: In The Ultimate Computer, four Constitution Class starships are shown by creating a split screen effect. In The Omega Glory, two existing shots of the Enterprise are combined to create the appearance of two starships orbiting Omega IV. The restored picture is excellent, with deep colors and realistic flesh tones. The sound has been effectively, but tastefully, enhanced for multi-channel systems.
Rating:
Summary: Jim Kirk's Voice: The ORIGINAL Computer Virus!
Review: REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 27: The Ultimate Computer © / The Omega Glory © THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The Series' Umpteenth "Man-Versus-Machine" Scenario Historical Milestone: The first and only time the term 'Captain Dunsel' (defined as 'a component that serves no useful purpose') is brought up on the show. Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: One dead REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
If you're familiar with the episodes 'Nomad' and 'Return of the Archons', you'll probably feel a sense of déjà vu while watching 'The Ultimate Computer'. Once again, a computer goes haywire (in this case, one that's been installed & patched into the Enterprise's systems, in preparation for ship-to-ship battle simulations), and it's up to the resourcefulness of our gallant crew to save the day once again. As expected, Kirk manages to talk the computer 'to death', but not before he shares his feelings of self-doubt, fear of losing his job to a machine, and a stiff drink with the always-sympathetic Doctor McCoy. Nothin' like a nip of the hooch with your chief medical officer to get yourself back on track, I always say... THE OMEGA GLORY © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: Allegory of the Cold War; The true meaning of freedom and liberty Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: One dead REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
This particular show features the return of Morgan Woodward, one of my all-time fave Star Trek guest stars. As the mentally-tormented Dr. Simon Van Gelder in 'Dagger of the Mind', Woodward's unbelievably overdone facial expressions of pain and anguish were really fun to watch. His mush undergoes further manipulation-- this time showing off his 'angry' faces-- in his second Star Trek go-round as he fills the role of rogue Starfleet Captain Ronald Tracey. But if that ain't enough of a laugh, there's Jimmers' "lesson-of-the-day" that manages to milk a few more yuks outta me. His "we the people" spiel where he discusses the spirit of the United States Constitution to the planet's natives, while heartwarming to the average patriotic American Trekkie, is also quite cheesy when it's done in that unique Shatnerian delivery that has become a component of every modern two-bit standup comic's repertoire of backup gags. Throw in the unintentionally ironic fact that William Shatner is Canadian, and the guffaws don't die down 'til the closing credits roll! 'Late
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